GE Aviation successfully began testing the first full engine in the Future Affordable Turbine Engine (FATE) program under a cooperative agreement between GE and the US Army. The engine is designed to meet a series of aggressive goals including a 35% reduction in specific fuel consumption, 80% improvement in power-to-weight, 20% improvement in design life and 45% reduction in production and maintenance costs relative to currently fielded engines.

Preparing for the first test of the world’s largest engine—GE9X—requires big equipment and investments at GE Aviation Peebles Ohio facility.

The new $100 million combustor test cell, A20, is doling out record temperatures and pressure to push the limit on GE’s combustor technology.

Testing is underway on the first demonstration core for the GE9X engine that will power the Boeing 777X aircraft.